WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) is supporting the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, a bill introduced by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) yesterday. This legislation would allow Wisconsin concealed carry permit holders to exercise those rights in any other state with concealed carry laws, while abiding by that state’s laws.

“This bill protects states' rights while allowing law-abiding citizens to safely exercise their Second Amendment rights away from home. Our laws need to be efficient and effective while allowing as much freedom as possible,” said Sen. Johnson. “I hope this bill will get the broad support it deserves.”

The legislation is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Thune (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

Background on the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act:

Protecting Fundamental Constitutional Rights:

·         Allows law-abiding citizens to exercise their fundamental right to self-defense while they are traveling or temporarily living away from home.

·         Allows individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to conceal carry in any other states that also allow concealed carry.

·         Treats state-issued concealed carry permits like drivers’ licenses where an individual can use their home-state license to drive in another state, but must abide by that other state’s speed limit or road laws. 

Respecting State Sovereignty:

·         Does not establish national standards for concealed carry.

·         Does not provide for a national concealed carry permit.

·         Does not allow a resident to circumvent their home state’s concealed carry permit laws. If under current law an individual is prohibited by federal law from carrying a firearm, they will continue to be prohibited from doing so under our bill. 

·         Respects state laws concerning specific types of locations in which firearms may not be carried and types of firearms which may not be carried by the visiting individual.

·         Protects states’ rights by not mandating the right to concealed carry in places that do not allow the practice.

Broad Support:

·         Last Congress, identical legislation had 40 cosponsors. In the 113th Congress, a nearly identical amendment received 57 votes in the Senate, including 13 Democrats.

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